On April 28, we announced that the Historic Trask House and Kitchen will be moving from its current location on Red River to the grounds of the new Austin Convention Center. The Trask House will be relocated directly within its original 1855 city block and lot, and will be incorporated into programmable space. “This moment represents more than a relocation. It reflects Austin’s commitment to honoring its history while investing in its future,” said Katy Zamesnik, Interim Director of the Austin Convention Center.
The Trask House has been a part of Austin’s growth since the city’s early beginnings. In 1855, Frances Trask Thompson purchased lots in downtown Austin. Soon after, the Trask House was built. It’s a rare example of an antebellum, single-family home with a detached kitchen—possibly the only remaining one within Austin’s original townsite boundaries—made of limestone rubble masonry in the Greek Revival style.
Over the years, the Trask House has seen transitions to the neighborhood and the modernization of Austin. It survived the great Waller Creek Flood in 1915 and was witness to early infrastructure improvements to prevent future flooding. In the 1960s, the Trask House became a mixed use building and was occupied by tenants associated with Austin’s early LGBTQ+ movement. It’s also been home to a beauty salon, law firm, wedding chapel, jewelry shop, and even has a connection to Austin musician, Townes Van Zandt. The house is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, recipient of the Austin Heritage Society Award, and City of Austin Landmark.
The new Austin Convention Center is redefining Austin’s future while remaining rooted in the city’s past through the preservation of the Trask House, one of the few remaining homes of its kind. “Progress and preservation can and should go hand in hand, and protecting places like the Trask House keeps Austin grounded in its identity,” said Council Member Zo Qadri.
Stay tuned for more updates! We look forward to sharing more about this historic building as the project progresses.
Hosted a rendering reveal event on April 28 highlighting the preservation of the Historic Trask House and Kitchen and its future return to Neches Street as a programmable space.
Building the future Austin Convention Center means staying connected to the community we serve and keeping everyone informed and involved every step of the way. Since 2024, our team has been on the ground at 90+ community events across Austin.
Here is a quick look at where we’ve been recently:
ABC Kite Fest: We joined thousands of folks at one of Austin’s most beloved events, chatting about the project timeline and handing out free UnconventionalATX kites to fill the Austin sky.
ULI Marketplace Event: We connected with hundreds of industry leaders and stakeholders from across Central Texas, discussing the Convention Center’s role in economic growth and downtown evolution.
Transit Forward Investor Briefing: We engaged with the Austin business and civic community to share updates on the Convention Center and highlight its role in supporting Austin’s tourism industry.
Austin Contractors & Engineers Association Symposium: We connected with leaders from Austin’s infrastructure, engineering, and development sectors to discuss projects shaping the city’s future.
Downtown Austin Alliance: Our team set up shop at the Downtown Austin Alliance’s “Future of Downtown” event to share updates on the redevelopment and expansion.
Next up, catch us at Blues on the Green on June 9.
We want to keep the conversation going! If you have an upcoming neighborhood meeting, community gathering, or industry event where you’d like the UnconventionalATX team to present or set up an information table, reach out to us.
Contact us to talk about your next event and how we can help.
The $1.6 billion redevelopment and expansion is entirely funded by the Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT), a tax paid by visitors who stay at Austin hotels, Project Financing Zone revenues (a rebate of state HOT and sales taxes from hotels in a 3-mile radius around the Convention Center), and Convention Center revenues—not property taxes.
Learn more about the redevelopment and expansion of the Austin Convention Center.
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